Current Affairs 23 October 2024

CONTENTS

1. Andhra Pradesh’s New Incentive for Larger Families: Addressing Declining Youth Population
2. Linking Tonga’s Eruption to Atmospheric Disturbances Over India
3. Fourth Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine
4. Vitiligo
5. Nature Restoration Law
6. Hornets

 Andhra Pradesh’s New Incentive for Larger Families: Addressing Declining Youth Population

Context:

In response to a declining young population in Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced plans to introduce legislation incentivizing families to have more children. This initiative aims to counteract the state’s fertility rates, which have fallen below the replacement level, potentially leading to significant long-term demographic challenges.

Relevance:

GS II: Government Policies and Interventions

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Concerns of Southern States in India
2. India’s Aging Population and Fertility Trends
3. Concerns About an Aging Population
4. Efficacy of Pro-Natalist Policies
5. Why CM Naidu’s Comments Are Significant
6. Way Forward

Concerns of Southern States in India

Population Trends and Parliamentary Representation

• Fertility Success: Southern states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh have effectively reduced their fertility rates over the years through robust public health initiatives.
• Aging Population: This demographic success has led to a higher proportion of the aging population, which presents unique challenges, particularly concerning workforce sustainability and healthcare.
• Political Implications: Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has voiced concerns that the low population growth in Southern states might lead to reduced representation in the Indian Parliament. This is a significant issue as parliamentary seats are allocated largely based on population.

India’s Aging Population and Fertility Trends

Recent Data and Projections

• Data Delays: The 2021 Census has been delayed, making the most recent reliable data from the 2020 report by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Aging Demographic: Nationally, the aging population (60+) is set to increase, with a more pronounced rise in the Southern states due to their earlier achievement of low fertility rates.
• Fertility Disparities: Southern states have reached replacement fertility levels (2.1 children per woman) much earlier than Northern states like Uttar Pradesh, which is only expected to reach these levels by 2025.

Projected Population Growth

• Overall Growth: From 2011 to 2036, India’s population is expected to grow by approximately 31.1 crore, with significant contributions from states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh.
• Southern Contribution: In contrast, the collective population increase from the five Southern states (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Tamil Nadu) is projected to be only about 2.9 crore over the same period.

Elderly Population Dynamics

• Doubling of Elderly Population: The number of elderly persons is expected to more than double, rising from 10 crore in 2011 to 23 crore by 2036.
• Regional Variations: Kerala will see nearly one in four people aged over 60 by 2036, indicating a significant shift towards an older demographic, whereas Uttar Pradesh will maintain a relatively younger demographic profile with only 12% aged 60+.

Concerns About an Aging Population

Increased Dependency Ratio

• An aging population leads to a higher dependency ratio, which is the proportion of non-working individuals (under 15 and over 60) compared to the working-age population. This shift demands more economic support from fewer working individuals.

Economic and Healthcare Challenges

• As the population ages, there is an increased need for healthcare services and social security, which can strain public resources and fiscal budgets, particularly in healthcare sectors specialized in geriatric care.

Political Implications

• A smaller younger population relative to other states can impact political representation, especially in the Lok Sabha. Southern states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, which have controlled population growth effectively, fear losing parliamentary seats to states with higher population growth, such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Efficacy of Pro-Natalist Policies

Mixed Global Success

• Countries like Japan, China, and various European nations have implemented pro-natalist policies to encourage higher birth rates, with varying degrees of success. While Scandinavian countries have seen some stabilization in fertility rates through supportive family systems and gender equality, nations like Japan and China have struggled to achieve significant results.

Economic and Cultural Factors

• Financial incentives alone often prove insufficient to boost fertility rates significantly, especially in societies with high levels of prosperity and education where the costs and lifestyle impacts of raising children can outweigh governmental incentives.

Why CM Naidu’s Comments Are Significant

Shift in Population Discourse

• CM Naidu’s remarks highlight a pivotal shift from past concerns over overpopulation to current challenges associated with underpopulation and aging demographics in certain regions.

Historical Context

• States like Andhra Pradesh were pioneers in achieving Replacement Level Fertility early on, impacting their current demographic challenges. The repeal of laws limiting the rights of individuals with more than two children to participate in local elections marks a significant policy reversal in response to these demographic trends.

Way Forward

Addressing Workforce Shortages Through Migration

• Internal migration from more populous northern states to the southern states could help balance the demographic and economic scales, providing a ready workforce that can immediately contribute to economic activities without the long-term costs of upbringing.

Focus on Productivity

• Improving labor productivity can compensate for lower population growth, ensuring that the economic output per capita remains high and sustainable.

Leveraging Demographic Dividend

• Capitalizing on India’s demographic dividend by maximizing the economic potential of its large young population can drive growth and development, offsetting some of the challenges posed by an aging demographic.

-Source: Indian Express

Linking Tonga’s Eruption to Atmospheric Disturbances Over India

Context:

A recent study has uncovered a surprising connection between the Tonga volcano eruption in the South Pacific Ocean and the formation of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles (EPBs) over the Indian subcontinent. This discovery highlights the far-reaching impact of volcanic activity on atmospheric phenomena.

Relevance:

GS I: Geography

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Key Highlights of the Tonga Eruption Study
2. Understanding Equatorial Plasma Bubbles (EPBs)
3. Key Facts About the Tonga Volcano
4. About the Ring of Fire

Key Highlights of the Tonga Eruption Study

Ionospheric Disturbances

• The Tonga eruption significantly influenced space weather, impacting satellite signals through ionospheric disturbances.
• The eruption generated strong atmospheric gravity waves that ascended into the upper atmosphere, creating favorable conditions for the formation of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles (EPBs).

Atmospheric Dynamics

• Gravity Waves: These waves occur when buoyancy forces air upward and gravity pulls it back down, leading to oscillations that propagated extensively due to the eruption.
• Detection of Plasma Blobs: Increases in the ionospheric eastward electric field at dusk were observed, indicating further disruptions in the ionosphere.

Understanding Equatorial Plasma Bubbles (EPBs)

Nature and Formation

• EPBs are formed through plasma instabilities in the equatorial ionosphere, manifesting as regions of depleted plasma.
• While they originate in the equatorial ionosphere, EPBs can extend and affect the global ionosphere up to 15° north and south of the Earth’s equator.

Impacts on Communication

• EPBs can scatter radio waves traveling through the ionosphere, leading to significant signal degradation.
• This scattering is a critical issue for systems dependent on high-frequency radio waves, including satellite communications and GPS.

Variability

• EPBs are most frequently observed during the Winter solstice and are least common during the Summer solstice, indicating significant seasonal variability.

Key Facts About the Tonga Volcano

• Situated in the western South Pacific Ocean, west of Tonga’s main inhabited islands.
• Part of the Tofua Arc, which itself is a segment of the larger Tonga-Kermadec volcanic arc, known for its active subduction zone dynamics.
• The volcano is part of the Ring of Fire, formed by the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Indo-Australian Plate.

Volcanic Features

• Submarine Volcano: Comprising two small uninhabited islands, Hunga-Ha’apai and Hunga-Tonga, it highlights the undersea nature of volcanic activity in this region.

About the Ring of Fire

• Many volcanoes in the Ring of Fire were created through a process of subduction. And most of the planet’s subduction zones happen to be located in the Ring of Fire
• It is a string of at least 450 active and dormant volcanoes that form a semi-circle, or horse shoe, around the Philippine Sea plate, the Pacific Plate, Juan de Fuca and Cocos plates, and the Nazca Plate.
• There is a lot of seismic activity in the area.
• 90 per cent of all earthquakes strike within the Ring of Fire

-Source: Indian Express

Fourth Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine

Context:

India quietly launched its fourth nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) at the Ship Building Center (SBC) in Visakhapatnam, enhancing its nuclear deterrence capabilities.

Relevance:

GS III: Defence

India’s Fourth Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN), Codenamed S4*

Development and Capabilities

• The fourth SSBN, codenamed S4*, is notable for its high level of indigenous content, nearly 75 percent, showcasing India’s advancing capabilities in defense technology.
• Equipped with K-4 ballistic missiles, S4* has a significant strike capability with missiles having a range of 3,500 km. These missiles are launched from vertical launching systems, enhancing the submarine’s operational readiness and strike capabilities.

Evolution and Comparison

•  S4* is part of a class that began with INS Arihant. While INS Arihant is equipped with 750 km range K-15 nuclear missiles, its successors including INS Arighaat, INS Aridhaman, and now S4* carry the more advanced K-4 ballistic missiles.
• Following the commissioning of INS Arighaat in August 2024, and with INS Aridhaman scheduled for commissioning the following year, S4* represents the latest advancement in this submarine lineage. Both INS Arihant and INS Arighaat are already conducting deep-sea patrols.

Naming Convention

• Reflecting a systematic naming convention that ties back to India’s first leased nuclear attack submarine INS Chakra (S1), the progression has been consistent: INS Arihant (S2), INS Arighaat (S3), INS Aridhaman (S4), and the latest, S4*, which awaits a formal name.

General Characteristics of SSBNs

Strategic Military Role

• Only a few countries operate SSBNs, including the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France, and India. These nations utilize SSBNs for their strategic nuclear deterrent capabilities.
• SSBNs are primarily designed for second-strike purposes, to ensure a country’s ability to respond with nuclear weapons even after a devastating first strike, thus underpinning the principle of mutual assured destruction.
• The operational effectiveness of an SSBN is highlighted by its virtually unlimited range. The only constraints are food supplies, crew fatigue, and maintenance requirements, allowing these submarines to remain submerged for extended periods without surfacing.

-Source: The Hindu

Vitiligo

Context:

A new Kannada film is attempting to take the veil of stigma off from a vitiligo disease that is usually the subject of stereotypes and ignorance in India.

Relevance:

GS II: Health

Overview of Vitiligo

Nature and Causes of Vitiligo

• Vitiligo is a chronic skin disorder characterized by the loss of skin color in patches. This occurs due to the destruction or malfunction of melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, which is responsible for the skin’s color.
• The exact cause of vitiligo is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic, autoimmune, and environmental factors:
  • Autoimmune Reaction: In many cases, the immune system mistakenly targets and destroys melanocytes.
  • Environmental Triggers: Factors such as oxidative stress, physical trauma, severe sunburn, or exposure to certain chemicals might trigger the onset or exacerbation of the condition.

Symptoms and Development

• Affected individuals develop white patches on the skin, which can appear on any part of the body including the skin, hair, and mucous membranes such as the lining of the mouth.
• Vitiligo typically starts as small white spots, which can spread and merge over time to cover larger areas.

Demographics and Prevalence

• Age of Onset: It can appear at any age but is most commonly observed before the age of 30.
• Global Prevalence: Between 0.5% and 2% of the world’s population is affected by vitiligo, translating to roughly 100 million people globally. It impacts men and women equally.

Treatment Approaches

• Management of Symptoms: While there is no cure for vitiligo, various treatments are available that aim to manage the symptoms and attempt to restore some degree of skin pigmentation:
  • Topical Treatments: These include corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors which may help reduce the progression of depigmentation and, in some cases, might restore pigment.
  • Phototherapy: Using ultraviolet light to stimulate melanocytes can be effective in restoring some color to the affected areas.

Impact and Support

Vitiligo can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life, primarily due to cosmetic issues and the social stigma associated with visible skin conditions. Support from dermatologists, coupled with appropriate treatment plans and psychological support, can help manage the condition effectively and improve the life quality of those affected.

-Source: Down To Earth

Nature Restoration Law

Context:

The Nature Restoration Law (NRL), which was enacted by the European Union (EU), is an inspiring model from which India can draw points to tackle its growing environmental crises.

Relevance:

GS III: Environment and Ecology

Nature Restoration Law (NRL) in the European Union

• The Nature Restoration Law (NRL) is an initiative by the European Union to combat the pressing issues of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. This law represents a significant step as it is the first comprehensive, continent-wide legislation specifically focused on ecological restoration.
• The NRL is a central component of the broader EU Biodiversity Strategy, which outlines binding targets for restoring ecosystems, particularly those that are crucial for carbon sequestration and mitigating natural disasters.

Key Provisions and Goals

• The law mandates that Member States must restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030. This includes a diverse range of ecosystems such as terrestrial, coastal, freshwater, forest, agricultural, and urban areas.
• By 2050, the ambition extends to include all ecosystems that require restoration across the EU.
• Specific Initiatives:
  • Urban Green Spaces: Enhancing urban areas with more green spaces to improve air quality, biodiversity, and residents’ mental health.
  • River Restoration: Promoting free-flowing rivers by removing artificial barriers, which aids in restoring natural water systems and enhancing aquatic biodiversity.
  • Pollinators and Tree Planting: Aiming to increase pollinator populations crucial for agriculture and ecosystem health, and committing to planting 3 billion additional trees across the EU by the target date.

Implementation and Planning

• Each Member State is required to draft detailed plans outlining their specific strategies to meet the NRL targets. These plans must ensure that restored areas are maintained and do not undergo significant deterioration.
• Member States are also instructed to evaluate the socio-economic impacts and benefits of their restoration activities. This includes estimating the financial resources necessary for effective implementation.

Monitoring and Compliance

• The European Commission will oversee the progress of Member States in meeting their restoration goals, ensuring adherence to the NRL and evaluating the effectiveness of the measures implemented.

-Source: Indian Express

Hornets

Context:

According to a recent study, a species of hornet that often munches on foods containing alcohol can hold its liquor, without any side effects, at levels that no other known animal can tolerate.

Relevance:

GS III: Species in News

Hornets

• Hornets are a specific group within the insect family Vespidae, which also includes yellow jackets, paper wasps, potter wasps, and pollen wasps. There are about 20 known species of hornets, primarily distributed across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Additionally, one species has been introduced to North America.
• Typically, hornets are black or brown with distinct yellow or yellowish markings, making them easily recognizable among other wasp species.

Behavior and Ecology

• Hornets are highly social insects that live in large, organized colonies. These colonies are structured with queens, workers, and drones, each playing specific roles within the hive.
• Hornets prefer to build their nests in elevated areas, often high up in trees, under eaves, or in other sheltered spots where they can remain undisturbed.

Dietary Habits

• Hornets have a diet that includes both sugar and protein. They are predatory on other insects, such as honeybees and various species of social wasps. Hornets capture these insects and chew them into a paste to feed their larvae.
• Their predatory nature helps control the populations of other insects, which can be beneficial for ecological balance. However, their impact on honeybees can be detrimental to apiculture.

Safety and Sting

• Hornets are known for their ability to release more venom per sting than any other stinging insect, which contributes to their reputation for being dangerous. However, they are not necessarily more aggressive than other wasps unless provoked.
• The venom of hornets can cause significant pain and, in rare cases, severe allergic reactions in humans. Due to their size and the volume of venom they inject, hornet stings are particularly feared.

Notable Species

• The northern giant hornet or Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is especially noteworthy as the largest hornet species globally. Native to Asia, this species has garnered international attention for its size and the potential threat it poses to honeybee populations.

-Source: The Hindu